Chapter 73: Shackled in Darkness
The door shook violently before bursting open. The two men Leon thought he had already defeated reappeared, their bloodshot eyes blazing with rage. Wounds still bled across their bodies, yet with some frenzied strength, they hurled themselves into the room, like wild beasts provoked beyond reason.
Leon was holding Camila tightly when he instinctively turned his head. Just as his hand touched the doorknob, a steel rod came crashing down from one of them without hesitation. Leon only managed to twist his body around, throwing his entire frame forward to shield Camila.
Crack!
A harsh thud echoed as the rod slammed into Leon’s skull. Darkness flickered before his eyes, pain exploding across his head—but his arms refused to let go of Camila. His knees buckled, yet his gaze still burned with determination. One thought thundered in his mind: No… I cannot let Camila be hurt. She is… my very reason to live.
Staggering, Leon carried Camila toward the bed and laid her down with care. But before he could strike back, one attacker lunged to drag Camila away while the other rained blow after blow upon Leon’s back.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Each strike tore through flesh like fire. Leon clenched his teeth, wrapping himself around Camila, his body the only shield she had. Blood trickled down his spine, soaking his shirt.
Camila screamed, voice choked with tears:
“You bastards! Stop! Please, stop hitting him! He’s going to die!”
Her pleas only fueled their sadistic laughter. Leon weakened with every breath, his vision blurring. A deafening buzz filled his ears, drowning out the world. Blood dripped into his eyes, painting everything a grotesque red haze.
I can’t pass out… Heart, keep beating… beat for her… protect her… Leon clung to consciousness. His chest pounded as though it would burst, but strength drained from his limbs. At last, his body collapsed heavily to the ground, his eyes shutting right before Camila’s horrified gaze.
The two men halted, panting. One smirked vilely at Camila.
“This one’s yours to deal with… but the girl, she’s mine.”
At that instant, a sound came from the doorway. The driver—the traitor—entered. Without a word, he slammed his fist into the leering man’s face.
“Idiots! Useless trash, the lot of you.”
The pair lowered their heads, cowed. With a dismissive wave, the driver ordered coldly:
“Take them to the warehouse. Tie them up. Lock the door and stand guard. And remember—don’t touch them. Not a finger, until Lady Celeste gives the order. Understand?”
The two thugs obeyed, dragging Leon and Camila away.
Camila’s eyes fluttered open into suffocating blackness. The stench of mildew thickened the air, insects skittered across the floor, wings buzzing in the shadows, cobwebs brushing against her face. It took a long while before her eyes adjusted.
She spotted Leon—bound hand and foot, head slumped forward, blood soaking through his shirt. Still unconscious. His breathing was shallow, ragged, as though each inhale scraped against broken glass.
“Leon… please… wake up…” Camila whispered, sobs spilling down her cheeks.
Crippled legs bound tight, she could only crawl across the damp floor toward him. Every movement dug the ropes deeper into her flesh, burning her skin raw. Her knees and arms scraped against the rough ground, tearing open, mixing sweat with blood and tears.
Clack… clack…
The faint sound of her body dragging across the floor echoed in the darkness, a desperate plea swallowed by silence.
As she dragged herself, memories flashed—Leon shielding her from thugs the first time, eyes ablaze with the same defiance he showed tonight. She remembered his embrace in the rain, his whisper: “I will never leave you alone.” That memory ignited her strength. No matter the pain, she pressed forward.
“Leon… wait for me… I’m coming to you…” she whispered through trembling lips.
Her frail body shuddered, yet her eyes blazed with resolve.
Suddenly, the iron door screeched open. A narrow beam of light pierced the darkness. The traitorous driver stepped in.
Camila jolted violently, thrashing like a cornered animal. Her eyes blazed crimson with hatred, veins straining. Tape sealed her mouth, or she would have cursed him until her voice broke.
He strode closer, smirking grotesquely. Leaning down, he pressed a mocking kiss against her forehead.
“Don’t do anything to displease me… or I’ll blow that mutt’s brains out.”
His gaze slid toward Leon, cold and lethal. He drew a pistol and aimed it at Leon’s head.
Camila’s muffled scream tore from her throat, her body convulsing against the ropes. She thrashed desperately, trying to hurl herself forward to protect Leon—but the bindings held her tight, turning her resistance into agony. Her soul cried out: Don’t! Don’t hurt him! Kill me instead if you must… but not him…
The driver tilted his head, chuckling darkly.
“See? He’s useless. Lying there like a corpse. I’m the one who can protect you, give you everything. If only you’d obey…”
Camila’s eyes flared with pure fury, as though she could burn him alive with her glare.
He laughed again, lowering the gun with casual disdain.
“I was only teasing, Camila. Don’t be so afraid. But remember… I can always make it real.”
With that, he turned and slammed the door shut, leaving behind suffocating darkness—one broken man, one woman weeping herself empty.
Camila collapsed to the cold floor, her eyes locked on Leon. The silence pressed in from all sides, broken only by the distant scratching of rats in the walls. Slowly, her fear hardened into a searing flame of hatred. She swore silently, her tears burning like fire:
No matter what… I will save you, Leon. By heaven and earth, I will never let him take you from me.
Her bound fists clenched until her nails dug into her palms. She forced her trembling body upright, inching closer to Leon’s side until her forehead rested against his blood-streaked shoulder. In the suffocating dark, she whispered again—not in despair this time, but with deadly resolve:
I swear… I will fight. Even if it kills me.
And in that silence, her vow echoed louder than any scream.